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Ignoring cultural differences in the workplace can lead to low morale, decreased creativity and even damage a company's reputation, Heather R. Keller says. An increasingly global workforce means diversity training is more important than ever, she notes.

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Ignoring cultural differences in the workplace can lead to low morale, decreased creativity and even damage a company's reputation, Heather R. Keller says. An increasingly global workforce means diversity training is more important than ever, she notes.

Companies often use feedback from coworkers to evaluate employees, even though the process can be difficult and confrontational, Suzanne Lucas writes. If you want to provide constructive criticism on an evaluation form, make sure it's coupled with a solution, she notes, or better yet, talk to the boss in person.

It might be short-sighted to cancel off-site meetings or training to cut costs, Fred Cook writes. Face-to-face meetings boost morale, strengthen relationships and generate ideas, he notes, while training promotes engagement by showing employees the company is "investing in their future."

In professional settings, avoid certain phrases or words that can be annoying to others, Billie Sucher writes. Try cutting these cliches out of your vocabulary: "To be quite honest," "irregardless," "bottom line," "no brainer" and "sucks."

Formalizing flex-time arrangements can take the stigma out of asking for time off, help relieve stress and eliminate the notion it's an entitlement for some workers, Sylvia Ann Hewlett writes. Flex time also helps recruit and retain the best workers, while boosting productivity and morale, she writes.